Wind-engine



(Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet; 1. v

P. D. GRAHAM;

WIND ENGINE.

Patented July 22, 1884.

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P.D GRAHAM.

WIND ENGINE.

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Darren STATES ATENT rrrc.

PETER DUNLAP GRAHAM, OF OORUNNA, INDIANA.

WIND-ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 302,246, dated July 22,1884.

Application filed August 9, 1883.

as the wheel is moved by the wind said vanes will be automaticallyshifted.

One object of my improvement is toso arrange the adjusting mechanism ofthe vanes that the speed of the wheel may be changed or the machinebethrown in and out of gear by a regulating device located at the baseof the frame.

Another object of the invention is to render the structure more solid bymounting the wheel upon a fiXed part of the frame, which part also formsthe upper bearing for the main or driving shaft of the machine.

Another object of the invention is to so construct the wheel-spider andarrange the working parts of the wheel in connection therewith that thelatter will be protected from rain or snow, thus rendering such partsless liable to become rusted or clogged with ice.

With these objects in view my invention consists in certain novelfeatures and combinations, which will be fully described in the ensuingspecification and briefly set forth in the claims at the close thereof.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of my improvedwind-wheel and its frame, certain parts being broken away in directionin which the wheel revolves.

(ModeL) The corresponding parts illustrated in the several figures ofthe drawings are designated by the same letters of reference.

Secured to the top of a stout frame, A, of any suitable or preferredconstruction, is a standard, B, the upper ylindrical portion of whichforms a bearing, 1), for the wheel-hub. The bearing b terminates at thebottom in a shoulder, b, and the portion of the standard below theshoulder b is provided with one or more longitudinal grooves, I)". Thelower end of the standard terminates in a base-block, B,

which is firmly secured to the top of the frame A; and projecting fromthe base-block B is a bracket, 12 in which is pivoted a lever, G, theshort arm of which is bifurcated to straddle the standard B and supportthe studs or trunnions c, projectin outward from the opposite sides of aring, 0, which encircles and is adapted to slide upon the groovedportion of the standard.

The wheel iscomposed of a spider consisting of a flanged hub, D, andradial arms d. In the outer ends of these arms d are journaled thedouble cranks H, to which the vanes are secured. The hub D terminates atthe top in a dome or cap, (I, on which are formed eyes, and it isprovided at the bottom with a flange, D, to the under side of which thearms d of the spider are secured. To prevent these arms from saggingunder the weight of the vanes, they are provided on their upper sideswith eyes, in which are secured the outer ends of tie-rods d the innerends of which are secured in the eyes on the cap (Z of the hub.

Projecting downward from opposite sides of the flange D are posts d theinner sides of whioh'are grooved, as shown in Fig. 2, and between theseposts (1 a ring of metal, (1*, is secured to the under side of theflange D.

. Pivoted beneath the wings d of the flange D are levers E, on the shortarms of which are formed rack-teeth e, which engage with teeth formed onthe opposite sides of the sliding rack-bars F. i

To the long arms of the levers E are swiveled eyes e,- in which aremounted to slide the connecting-rods G, the outer ends of which aresecured to the cranks H, on which the vanes K are mounted. The innerends of these connecting-rods G are threaded and provided with adjListing-nuts g. I prefer to interpose springbuffers 9 between the nuts 9and the eyes 0"0f the levers E, to cushion the throw of the cranks whenthey are turn ed outwardly by the shifting of the vanes. The inner endsof the sliding rack-bars F work through slots formed in the ring (1, andat about the center of each of said rack-bars is pivoted the upper endof a link, F. The lower ends of these links are pivoted to lugs f,projecting from opposite sides of a sleeve, F which sleeve is alsoprovided with spurs j", the outer ends of which proj ect within thegrooves formed in posts (1". The hub D is longer than its bearing b onthe standard B, .so that when said hub is bored out to receive thebearing a solid web may be left at the cap (I, which web will rest uponthe upper rounded end of the bearing, and the weight of the wheel bethus supported by said bearing. The standard B is cored out to form theupper bearing for shaft I, the lower bearing, i, of which is secured tocross-braces a at the base of the frame A. The upper end of the shaft Iprojects sufficiently above the standard B to pass through an apertureformed in the cap (I of the hub D, and be secured by a nut or othersuitable means. The shaft is rigidly secured to the hub D by feather andgroove, or otherwise, so that it will turn therewith, and I prefer to soconnect these parts that the weight of the shaft will be borne by thehub.

Secured near the base of the frame A is a spring-bar, A, provided withprojecting studs c, adapted to engage a perforation formed in the adjListing-rod G, the upper end of which is secured to the long arm of thelever C.

The lower end of the shaft I is provided with a bevel-pinion, I, whichmeshes with a similar pinion, J, secured to a horizontal shaft, j, journaled in a hanger, J, swivelingly connected to the lower bearing, 1',of the shaft I. This hanger J is provided with a set-screw, j, by meansof which it may be locked to the bearing 11 after having been turned tothe desired position. The ends of the shaft j project beyond the arms ofthe hanger J, and are pro vided, one end with a crank, j, and the otherend with a pulley, j.

To provide a double bearing for the cranks II, I secure a plate, d,below and to the outer ends of the arms (1 of the spider by means ofstay-bolts; and to protect said cranks from being clogged with snow orice, I secure a housing, 71, between said arms (2 and plates 01".

The vanes K are constructed of a stout frame, 7x7, (preferably iron,)over which or to which is secured a sail of any suitable material. Thevanes are provided at one end and to one side of the longitudinal centerwith socketirons is, adapted to receive the ends of the cranks H. Thesesocket-irons are provided on each side with an extension, k to the outerend of which is secured one end of a tie-wire, 7d, the other end of saidwire being secured to the opposite end of the frame of the vane, to giverigidity thereto. g

The cap of the 'hub D is provided with an oiling-aperture, preferably ofthe reservoir class, to supply lubricant to the hub and shaft bearings.It will be seen that, as the shaft I projects above its bearing but justa sufficient distance for connection with the hub, it will not besubjected to lateral strain, owing to the fact that said hub is mountedon a bearing rigidly secured to or forming part of the frame, thuspreventing a binding of said shaft in its bearings. As the cranks H,rods G, and their operating mechanism are located beneath the flange andarms of the spider, there will be but little liability of said partsbecoming clogged by snow or ice or becoming coated with rust.

The shaft J is provided with both a crank and pulley, so that power maybe transmitted either by means of a belt or pitman. By this means I amenabled to obtain both a rotary movement for driving grindstones,circular saws. &c., and a reciprocating movement for working a pump-rod.By loosening the setserew j and detaching the pump red, the hanger maybe turned to transmit power in any direction.

The operation of my machine is as follows: Supposing the adj usting-rodC to be free from the studs of the spring-bar A, the machine is out ofgear, the spider being locked by means of the inner ends of therack-bars F engaging with the grooves b of the standard B. \Vhile therack-bars remain in this position the long arms of the levers E will bein their outermost positions, thus permitting the connecting-rods G toslide freely through the eyes 0', and the vanes, being pivoted to oneside of their longitudinal centers,will swing free and present a thinedge to the wind.

To place the machine in working condition or in gear, the adjusting-rodG is pulled down and hooked to one or the other of the studs a on thespring-bar A. By this action the lever G raises the ring 0, and as thesleeve 1* rests upon this ring said sleeve will be lifted, thus carryingupward the lower ends of links F.

As the upper ends of these links are pivoted,

to the sliding rack-bars F, said bars will be caused to slide outwardlyfrom the standard, carrying with them the short or toothed ends oflevers E, and this action will cause the long arms of said leversE tomove toward the standard, carrying with them the connecting-rods G, andcausing the cranks II to be turned toward said standard. The vanes arenow in the position required to drive the machine. The nutsg are soadjusted on the inner ends of the connecting-rods G- as to give thecranks H sufficient play to permit the vanes to shift themselvesautomatically when their rear edges are presented to the wind.

The machine may be set to run fast or slow in a stiff wind by securingthe adj usting-rod nearer to or farther from the free end of thespring-bar A, as, if said rod is secured at the free end of the springbar, the latter will yield slightly, and thus allow of the slightshifting of the vanes to bring them more in ICO the direction of thewind, thus causing them i to present less surface to the action of thewind,

and decreasing its pressure upon the wheel.

By securing the adjusting -rod nearer to the fixed end of thespring-bar, the leverage will be lessened, and the power of the springto resist the swinging action of the vanes be proportionately increased.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a windmill, the frame A, provided at its top with a fixedstandard, forming eXteriorly a bearing for the wheel-hub-and interiorlya bearing for the main shaft.

2. In a Windmill, the combination, substantially as before set forth, ofthe standard, provided at its top with an exterior bearing, the hub,mounted to rotate on said bearing, and the main shaft, secured to andsupported by said hub and adapted to rotate in bearings arranged belowits support.

3. The combination of the standard, the spider journaled thereon, thecranks journaled in the arms of the spider, the connecting-rods securedat one end to the cranks and at the other end to levers pivoted to thespider, and means, substantially such as described, for operating saidlevers to control the position of the cranks.

4. The combination, substantially as before set forth, ofthe'standard,the spider, the cranks, a sleeve. mounted to slide upon thestandard, the rack-bars, links connecting the sleeve with the rack-bars,mechanism for connecting the rack-bars with the cranks, and means forelevating the sleeve.

5. The combination, substantially as before set forth, of the groovedstandard, the spider,

the cranks, a sleeve mounted to slide upon the standard, the rack-bars,links connecting the sleeve with the rack-bars, mechanism for connectingthe raok-bars with the cranks, and means for elevating the sleeve.

6. The combination, substantially as before set forth, of the standard,the sleeve mounted to slide on the standard, a lever for elevating thesleeve, the spring-bar, and means for connecting the lever with thespring-bar.

7. In a windmill, the combination, substantially as before set forth, ofthe upper bearing for the main shaft, the hub-bearing arrangedconcentric therewith, and the hub provided with a single oiling-apertureto supply'lubricant to both of said bearings.

S. In ahorizontal windmill, the combination of the flanged hub, theradial arms rcmovably secured thereto, the crankshaving their upperbearings in the outer ends of said arms, and mechanism secured to theunder side of said flange and arms for controlling the position of thecranks, substantially as before set forth.

9. In a vane for windmills, the combination, substantially as before setforth, of the frame provided at one end with a socketironhavinglateralextensions, and the tie-wires secured at one end to saidextensions and at the other end to the opposite end of the frame.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

PETER- DUN LAP GRAHAM.

\Vitn esses:

G. H. MILns,

F. G. FRIED.

